Geothermal Heat Pump System for New Student Housing at University at Albany
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
March 23, 2010
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The University at Albany is proposing to install a ground source heat pump which will service a 500-bed apartment style student housing to be constructed at the Uptown campus. However this project is in the process of conducting their feasibility study and has yet to select neither a ground source heat pump system nor the exact project locations for installation. Therefore Department of Energy (DOE or Department) will issue a determination for Phase 1 "Feasibility Study and Conceptual Engineering Design" of the project. Phase 2 "Installation and Commissioning of Equipment will require further National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review immediately following site selection and conceptual system design. DOE will require all information collected during Phase 1 to be submitted to the Department for review before project implementation can occur. Phase 1 investigations will include the drilling of a test borehole at the proposed project location in order to determine the thermal conductivity of the soil, each borehole will be contiguous to the building and will be on previously disturbed land this test borehole will not effect any wetland, floodplain, and/or coastal area.